Abstract

The in situ reaction of Bu2Mg with 2 mol. equiv. of (Me3Si)2NH followed by addition of Ph2CO yields the heteroleptic amide/alkoxide complex [{(Me3Si)2NMg[µ-OC(H)Ph2] ·(OCPh2)}2] 1, whereas reaction of purified [{(Me3Si)2N}2Mg] 2 with Ph2CO results in formation of the solvate [{(Me3Si)2N}2Mg·(O CPh2)2] 3, the difference being due to incomplete amination of the bis(alkyl)magnesium compound resulting in -hydride transfer to the ketone, which is the first example of this type of transformation using an alkyl(amido)magnesium reagent.